State scraps Vergennes mental health treatment center

By Shay Totten | Vermont Guardian

Posted January 13, 2006

VERGENNES — State officials announced Friday that they were scrapping efforts to open a controversial mental health treatment center in Vergennes.

Citing legal advice that the property is out of compliance with Act 250, the partners who had proposed locating a sub-acute community recovery facility at the former Briarwood Manor nursing home property in Vergennes withdrew their real estate purchase offer, according to Paul Blake, the state’s deputy commissioner for mental health.

“It is a disappointment to not be going forward,” said Blake. “Obviously, the community opposition would play a role for any project, but in this particular one we just couldn’t go forward with it because of the problems associated with Act 250.”

Officials were not clear on what Act 250 violations existed with the property. State officials are currently looking at the former Lakeview Inn in Greensboro as a possible treatment center.

Click here for the full text of this story in our subscriber's area.